UMN has a new coordinator!
Read more below.
Field course offerings will be limited in 2025 so we can update the curriculum, then ramp-up programming for 2026.
Mission
EDUCATE — COLLABORATE — CONNECT
Here at Utah Master Naturalist, our mission is to educate people about Utah's natural environment by promoting awareness, understanding, and stewardship. We collaborate with a network of organizations to provide experiential, hands-on learning opportunities. Our programs connect individuals with a circle of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation, education, and service within their communities.
How to become a Utah Master Naturalist
Goals
- Inspire people to learn about Utah's natural history and to share that knowledge with others.
- Foster a community spirit of volunteering and service to Utah organizations.
- Unite people from across the state to share common ground and common interests.
UPCOMING FIELD COURSES
Field courses are offered throughout the year by host organizations. these courses include approximately 16 hours of online class work and three field days.
Not able to attend a field course? You can register for an online course at any time.
Registrations for 2025 field courses will be posted here as they become available.
Park City, UT
Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter
Registration is full for this course, but we encourage you to join the Waitlist.
How to Become a Utah Master Naturalist
You can become a certified Utah Master Naturalist by participating in any course. It is possible to be certified in just one, two, three, or all four courses—Watershed Investigations, Desert Explorations, Mountain Adventures, Dark Sky Observation. Completion of all four courses makes you a fully certified Utah Master Naturalist. Each course includes an online class and three field days. Participants are given access to the online course approximately one month before the start of the field days for which they register. Registration fees are $250 per course, which includes both the online portion and field days.
Not able to attend a field course? You can register for an online course at any time.
Our assessment and evaluation data have revealed that amateur naturalists not only learn more than professional naturalists but consistently enjoy the program more.
Courses are never about who knows the most. Everyone who enrolls brings with them a unique set of knowledge and experiences, so courses are about sharing our knowledge with each other and learning from everyone’s experiences in Utah’s natural world.
You'll come away with a better understanding of humankind's role in shaping the past and determining the future as stewards of these amazing systems.
You may not be employed as an educator, but we're all educators when we share our interests with others! Each course offers you an opportunity to initiate, continue, and develop your personal journey of knowledge and stewardship of Utah's natural systems.
Becoming a Utah Master Naturalist will prepare you to share that knowledge and help others feel a greater connection to nature.
Upon completing the requirements, you will receive a certificate and pin identifying you as a Utah Master Naturalist! However, if you are unable to attend a full course, there is an option to register for just the online portion of the course.
In addition to receiving certification, you will have opportunities to expand your knowledge, interact and network with fellow naturalists, and learn from organizations that need your help in promoting stewardship of Utah’s natural world.
While volunteer hours are not required, we encourage participants to find meaningful ways to share their knowledge.
For formal educators, if cost is a barrier to enrolling in a course, there are a limited number of partial scholarships available.
There is also an opportunity to earn three Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from Utah State University for an additional recording fee of $120.
Contact
Address
Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter
1258 Center Dr
Park City, UT 84098
Phone
435-649-8951
The Utah Master Naturalist program is a Utah State University Extension certification program that teaches and certifies master naturalist volunteers and professionals. In operation since 2007, Utah Master Naturalist was developed in partnership with over 25 organizations in Utah. Designed as a knowledge-sharing program, certified Utah Master Naturalists promote stewardship of Utah's natural resources within their communities by providing education, outreach, and service.
